July 31, 2010

Jewelry is one of those things that goes along with the saying ‘the more the merrier’. I am a lover of lots of accessories. Wearing many pieces at once adds another dimension to any outfit. Just start buying a bracelet here, a ring there, before you know it you too will be rocking this look. The amazing part about this is that your own unique personality shows through the pieces you choose to wear and how you wear them so you can still be yourself while partaking in this trend.

Looking good ain’t cheap for some. But for the lucky bunch who have a keen eye for style & who are able to find brilliant pieces in unlikely places, it is very possible to look good while keeping that bank account looking good as well. I am a self-proclaimed bargain huntress, I refuse to spend more than I need to on key pieces in my wardrobe, yet I understand that there are certain things a girl has to splurge on every now and then. Luckily, that is the beauty of shopping smart; when you find something pricey that you want to purchase chances are you will be able to afford it because of the money saving techniques you’ve been practicing all along. There are some different ways to stay fly on a dime in this world we live in.

1. Don’t be too proud to go to the clearance rack. I understand that some people like to keep up with the trends and couldn’t fathom the idea of wearing anything “from last season”; HOWEVER I am pleased to report that I am most definitely not one of those people. If I like it, I buy it. If it fits me well, I rock it. If it’s from “last season”, who cares? Honestly, if something looks smashing on you, no one is going to care where you got it from, how much it was, or when you got it. As long as you’ve got that confidence to back that outfit up, nobody can say anything to you.

2. Try a thrift store/vintage store. I have an unhealthy obsession with thrift stores because I have gotten so lucky at those places. Nothing quite compares to finding an incredible piece of clothing that fits you like a glove for only $1.99. I love rummaging so the time it takes to go through the clothes at thrift stores does not bother me at all. I would say the most important rule of thrifting is just be patient. You may go to one and leave with ten bags in tow…or you may go to one and leave empty handed. These places are so hit & miss, you just have to keep going until you find things you like and trust me, once that happens you will have difficulty trying to stop. Vintage stores are similar to thrift stores in the sense that the items once belonged to someone else. However, vintage stores do tend to be pricier than thrift stores because most vintage stores sort through the clothes that are donated and choose the clothes they feel reflect their stores ‘image’ and which clothes they feel will sell. Most thrift stores sell the majority of what is donated.

3. Always keep an eye out for special deals. Some stores advertise special deals for certain customers. For example, last week Urban Outfitters announced their last chance $5 sale to their fans on facebook first and then to everyone else. I know of other stores who also have similar special deals for online members and frequent shoppers and blah blah blah. Even if you aren’t any of these things this information is not impossible to find, you just have to do a little snooping.

4. Always look online when dealing with pricier purchases. Nine times out of ten there is somewhere else that is selling what you want for a cheaper price. Of course no one wants to drive around looking for these places so your best bet is to go online and compare prices. However you must be extremely careful for fraudulent websites and for fake merchandise. Only order things from trusted websites, and if you feel leery about a certain website you are looking to order something from then don’t do it.

5. If you want to make an impulsive purchase, go home, sleep on it, & come back for it later. This has to be the most useful piece of advice my mother ever gave me and it has saved me so much money & buyer’s remorse. If I see something rather pricey that I impulsively want but don’t really need, I don’t buy it at first. I go home, sleep, and if I am still thinking about whatever it is the next day or the day after that and if I have enough money to buy it then I go back and get it. If I forgot about it or decided that I didn’t really need it or that I could get something cheaper somewhere else then I just leave it alone.

There are several other methods one can use to keep that wallet fat, but these are the things that I've done and that have been working for me so far. You don't have to make your own Chanel bag out of a brown paper bag, you just might find one in a thrift store for ten bucks. Looking good is not a luxury people, just about anyone can stay fly on a dime.Photo Credit: JakandJil.com

July 29, 2010

The song is calledAmbitious Girl and Wale’s words are extra thought-provoking in this one. This man is so poetic with his work; I am a huge fan of most of the songs he has done. Wale is so deep and this track matches that deepness. Being smart & goal drivenneeds to be the new sexy...we should fall in love with someones mind before we fall in love with their face (although let's be real, it usually doesn't work that way). Also, it's about time that rappers find a new kind of woman to talk about; this up & coming generation of young men needs to be educated on admiring the proper characteristics of a woman. We should be showing them it's more important to find a girl with aspirations instead of finding a girl with a fat ass. Keep an eye out for his mixtape dropping on August 3rd entitled More About Nothing.

July 16, 2010

Solange Knowles is a lady who not only has style but, most importantly, her own unique style. Shedid an interview for Refinery 29 which was posted on the website on June 30. Consider this an “in case you missed it” post since this story isn’t fresh off the press, but since I am such a fan I just have to give my two cents...

Solange is such a unique individual, from her fashion sense to her music it is clear that she marches to the beat of her own drum. I always admire people who are able to establish their own style be their own person and still be phenomenal while doing so. The fact that she has a sibling very prominent in the industry yet has been able to firmly establish a name for herself adds to her appeal. I've always admired Solange's style, her wardrobe is very vibrant. When asked who her style heroes were Solange said, "My mom in the '70s and '80'a...also, Diana Ross, The Fela Kuti Queens, Björk, '70s-era Chaka Khan, Chloë Sevigny, '90s Erykah Badu."

When asked about her style weapon Solange said, “Shoes! I'm all about the shoes! I order a ton of them online and play with my entire wardrobe until I find the right shoe. Unfortunately, so many people get it right from the head until the ankles. The shoe is very important. I can't even fuck with you if your shoe game is slacking.” Too true girl, too true.

I am a huge fan of Solange’s music, one can definitely hear the ‘60s Motown inspiration in her album Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreamswhich was released August 18, 2008. Solange is currently recording another album which I am looking forward to, I’ve already heard a few of the songs (Stillness Is the Move is my jam) & I am in love with what I have heard so far.

"If anything, I feel like if I didn't have a sister who was a huge star, no one would think twice about how I look, because they would have no one to compare it to. I would just be another gal who wears loads of vintage or counts Grace Jones as inspiration. But because I'm Beyoncé's sister, I'm an easy target to say, 'There's no way those two had the same parents, and have one be naturally this way...this has to be a ploy for her to appear cool!' It makes me want to pull out pictures of five-year-old me next to nine-year-old her wearing a tutu over polka dot stockings and an old scarf over my head. It would be so much easier for me to put on a little black dress, straighten my hair, and sing about dancing in the club, but it's not my job to prove anything. I'm here to make music, to inspire myself. I'm not selling my likability, I'm sharing my journeys. If you don't like it, believe it's real, or understand it...then keep my name out of your mouth."

Because of her brilliant sense of style, her lively music, and her strong sense of individuality, it is very safe to say that Solange knows what’s good & she has got it times two. To read this interview in its entirety click here.

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Good Good [gud-gud], noun.

Items of high quality & relevance; excellence. Matters that are interesting & worthy of discussion. Objects which could only be admired and appreciated by those of refined taste. A concept thats meaning has been lowered by those who use the term in less than impressive matters; however, I plan on lifting the term to newer heights. As far as I am concerned, that GOOD GOOD refers to all which is completely, genuinely, and most definitely fly. From fashion that only those drowning in style and swagger could ever understand to music that only those with a knowledge of notes & an ear for what is real can truly value & everything in between.